The town of Ras Al Mantah is now a completely different place compared to four years ago, when His Majesty King Abdullah first visited this impoverished area and discovered that much work was needed to make life acceptable for its residents.



In response to the King's directives, the Ministry of Planning earmarked JD550,000 from its Social Productivity Program Unit (SPPU) to establish development projects in the town, which was classified as a "poverty pocket" by a recent government study.



On Tuesday, King Abdullah revisited Ras Al Mantah to its development progress.



SPPU head Omar Rafie said the funds had been used to construct a new school building to replace the dilapidated rented premises that were once a source of complaint from the schoolchildren and their families. The new school is now part of a compound that also includes a primary health clinic and a social development centre.



The ministry also has carried infrastructure projects such as road maintenance.



The King, who toured the compound and enquired about the quality of services in the area, wants authorities to do more still. He directed Minister of Health Saeed Darwazeh to supply the clinic with additional doctors and medical personnel and urged the establishment of a dental clinic within the centre.



At the Ras Al Mantah Basic School, students informed King Abdullah of their need for a computer lab. The King immediately responded to their appeal by directing the authorities to install the facility promptly.



During his visit to the area, King Abdullah also donated JD50,000 to zakat committees in the district to help local organizations deal more efficiently with poverty alleviation programmes. The zakat committees function under the Ministry of Awqaf's Zakat Fund and support the poor with financial aid and in-kind items such as food and clothes.



The King's tour of Deir Alla also included a visit to the 21-year-old Dome of the Rock Charity Society, which is among the most active NGOs in the area.



The charity runs a kindergarten for around 200 children, a physiotherapy centre for 79 special needs children and a class where 15 hearing-impaired students receive elementary education.



The King donated a bus to the kindergarten and new furniture and equipment for the facilities and instructed the Ministry of Education to appoint an additional teacher for the hearing-impaired class.



Yousef Jitawi, director of the society, said that the teacher currently employed by the organization is under too much pressure, at the expense of teaching quality.



The teacher, Ikhlas Nsour, told the Monarch about three hearing-impaired brothers attending the class. She said they often must beg for money to buy food for their family. King Abdullah asked officials to study the situation of these children and offer them immediate assistance.



Upon the King's directives, the Dome of the Rock Society will also benefit from new computers to enhance IT literacy among schoolchildren and adults in the community.



The tour of Deir Alla began with a visit to Abu Obaidah Shrine, one of several religious sites housing the tombs of the Companions of the Prophet Mohammad that have been recently renovated by Awqaf authorities. The Monarch prayed and recited verses from the Quran at the tomb.



Also on Tuesday, King Abdullah met with tribal elders and community leaders at an iftar banquet in the Balqa Governorate. Senator Marwan Hmoud hosted the iftar at the diwan of the Arabiyyat clan, which resides in the city of Salt. King Abdullah, who performed the maghrib prayers with the guests, exchanged views with guests over issues of concern in Salt.